Are lick mats good for cats? The real question here isn’t if lick mats are good for cats, it’s ‘how soon should you be getting a lick mat for your feline friend?’ Lickimats provide calm for cats who suffer from separation anxiety and anxiety in general as it makes your cat’s brain release endorphins which is effective in relieving stress and anxiety.
What better way can you engage your cat’s mind? There are different types and they can be so efficient in keeping your cat’s breath fresh, helping you distract your feline friend while grooming or bathing them. In this article, you will be learning if lick mats are good for cats and what to put on lickimats for cats.
Table of Contents
- What Are Lick Mats?
- The Benefits
- Are Lick Mats Good For Cats?
- The Different Types Of Lick Mats
- How To Use A Lick Mat
- How To Know The Right One To Buy
- Final Thoughts
What Are Lick Mats?
Lick mats or lickimat as it’s branded is a fun exciting mat that encourages your cat to lick more. We know how strong those grips from our feline friend’s paws can be when they want to hold and eat up their favorite meal from a bowl at a go.
The mat is more like a puzzle that makes your cat feed more slowly, you can use this mat to keep your cat busy for a while as they can’t grip and consume all its content at once because of the brittles, ridges, and flat design of the lick mat.
The Benefits
How can these grazing mazes benefit your feline friend and you? Stimulating the cat mentally, effectively channeling pent-up energy, encourages a fresher breath, and can help soothe anxiety in cats.
Fresher breath
Licking surfaces with brittles and ridges can help clean up your cat’s tongue. It can be very difficult to get cats to brush their teeth, in fact up to 70% of cat parents don’t bother to try brushing their cat’s teeth as a result of the stiff resistance they get. Teaching the cat from the kitten stage will no doubt help.
Lick mat in addition to additives and turkey necks is an effective combo to clean the teeth of a cat that doesn’t like the toothbrush.
Soothe anxiety
Lick mats not only provide entertainment for a bored cat, but it’s also an effective way of desensitizing and counter-conditioning a cat; for a cat who shows mild and heavy signs of anxiety—they may react to the delivery man, to the doorbell, traffic noise and almost every sounds—lick mat can help shift their attention because while cats lick, endorphins are released in the brain, endorphins create a calming effect.
Channel pent-up energy
Senior cats become relatively calmer as they age, but kittens are notorious for a whole lot of actions which is why we exercise our kittens or get cat trees with exercise wheels so they could tire themselves out.
A lick mat is a great way of channeling this pent-up energy. You can throw in some peanut butter or roast some peanut seeds, or spread their wet foods on the mat and you’re good to go. If have more than one cat in your house, you will need to invest in one mat for each.
Mental stimulation
Instead of leaving your cat idle all day, how about you stimulating their minds, helping them remember things better, and you won’t have to be worried if your cat will remember you after two years or so. Mental stimulation equips the cats with short and long-term memory making it easier for them to remember tricks more.
Are Lick Mats Good For Cats?
Lick mats are good for cats. Lick mat provides a fun way of getting your cat to eat its favorite meals/treats but slowly. Lick mats also encourage cats to lick, and this habit is known to promote the feeling of happiness, eliminating anxiety and stress.
I have come to find this cat accessory a great addition to my home. My cats pay more attention to their name, and tricks, and even when we take walks without leashes, the addition of different types of lickmats seems to have enhanced my feline friend’s intelligence level.
With no doubt at all, lickimat is a win for you and your cat. Let me know in the comment—changes you have noticed in your cat after adding this accessory to your household.
The Different Types Of Lick Mats
Why I love the makers of lick mats is their understanding of cats, therefore making different types to match whatever you need to achieve in your cat.
The classic lick mat: the classic lick mat is the original design that started it all. This mat is made from a single piece of durable rubber that’s covered in small nubs. These nubs are designed to massage your pet’s gums and tongue, making it the perfect way to give them a little bit of extra stimulation. You can use wet foods and treats such as frosty paws on this classic mat.
The wobble: the wobble takes away boredom and replaces your kitty’s regular feeding bowl. It is equally effective in cleaning your cat’s mouth.
The lickimat outdoor keeper: this lovely accessory helps to protect your cat’s foods from insects that crawl outdoors such as roaches— Because of its water moat. Can be used as both a food and water bowl.
The lickimat UFO has 7 suction cups which enables it to stick to vertical surfaces such as bathtubs and windows. This lick mat is perfect to distract your cat during baths or grooming sessions.
How To Use A Lick Mat
Simply spread the desired amount of food on the smooth side of the mat, and then place the mat in the freezer. Once the food is frozen, your cat can enjoy a tasty, healthy treat. Here are a few recipes to get you started:
Frozen Yogurt Pops:
Spread plain yogurt on the lick mat, and then top with your dog’s favorite fruits or vegetables. Freeze for several hours, and then let your dog enjoy a refreshing frozen treat.
Peanut Butter and Banana Bites:
Spread peanut butter on the lick mat, and then top with slices of banana. Freeze for several hours, and then let your dog enjoy a healthy, protein-packed treat.
Cheese and Crackers:
Spread your favorite cheese on the lick mat, and then top with crackers. Freeze for several hours, and then let your dog enjoy a cheesy, crunchy treat.
There are endless possibilities for what you can make with a lick mat. Get creative and have fun experimenting with different recipes. Your dog is sure to love whatever you come up with!
How To Know The Right One To Buy
There are many different types of lick mats available on the market. So, how do you know which one is right for your cat?
The first step is to think about what type of licking your pet does. If your pet licks its food bowl clean, then a lick mat with food in it may be a good choice. If your pet licks their paws or body, then a lick mat with a smooth surface may be a better choice.
Once you’ve decided what type of licking your pet does, the next step is to choose a lick mat that is the right size. If your pet is small, then a small lick mat may be the best choice. If your pet is large, then a large lick mat may be the better choice.
The next step is to choose a lick mat that has the right textures. Some lick mats have a smooth surface, while others have a more textured surface. If your pet enjoys licking a textured surface, then a textured lick mat may be the best choice.
Finally, you’ll need to choose a lick mat that is easy to clean. Some lick mats are made of materials that can be easily cleaned, while others are not. If you want a lick mat that is easy to clean, then you’ll want to choose a mat that is made of a material that can be easily wiped down.
With so many different types of lick mats available, it can be tough to decide which one is right for your pet. However, by following these steps, you can narrow down the options and choose the best lick mat for your pet.
Final Thoughts
Lick mats or lickimats are very good for cats. If you have a lazy cat who just lays around all day, this lovely accessory is a way of getting your feline friend interested in exercise and trying new things out—preventing obesity and other health issues related with overweight. Are lick mats good for cats? Let us know your take in the comment section below.
